Cancer Survivors Network - Comments for "Help! Newly diagnosed."https://csn.cancer.org/node/139812
Comments for "Help! Newly diagnosed."en-csnRe: Help! Newly diagnosed.https://csn.cancer.org/comment/507417#comment-507417
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<p><em>In reply to <a href="https://csn.cancer.org/node/139812">Help! Newly diagnosed.</a></em></p>
<div class="field field-name-comment-body field-type-text-long field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><p>Tell Bob to have the nurse give him a small cup of ice chips before each chemo treatment. Have him keep ice in his mouth during the treatment itself. This slows the circulation of blood, and the chemicals, to the membranes of the mouth and throat. Really worked wonders for me in eliminating mouth and throat sores. I am an 8 year survivor. Keep a positive attitude and he will do fine.</p>
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</ul>Fri, 02 May 2003 17:46:42 +0000OpaRoncomment 507417 at https://csn.cancer.orgRe: Help! Newly diagnosed.https://csn.cancer.org/comment/507416#comment-507416
<a id="comment-507416"></a>
<p><em>In reply to <a href="https://csn.cancer.org/node/139812">Help! Newly diagnosed.</a></em></p>
<div class="field field-name-comment-body field-type-text-long field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><p>Kathi,<br />
I am a 39 year old single mom of an eight year old boy. I was diag. with colon cancer in Aug. 2002. I am in the middle of six months of Chemo. The best thing you can do is just be there for your husband. I have only a few freinds localy and I tell you a spouse would have been great.Let him know to ASK for help b/c it took me along time to ask and I should have done it sooner. He will be down and tierd at times just being there is sometimes all you can do. I know it feels overwhellming and it is. Get yourself some help and don't try to be superwoman. You can't help him if you are brunt out. Good luck</p>
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</ul>Tue, 29 Apr 2003 00:08:58 +0000vixenycomment 507416 at https://csn.cancer.orgRe: Help! Newly diagnosed.https://csn.cancer.org/comment/507415#comment-507415
<a id="comment-507415"></a>
<p><em>In reply to <a href="https://csn.cancer.org/comment/507414#comment-507414">Re: Help! Newly diagnosed.</a></em></p>
<div class="field field-name-comment-body field-type-text-long field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><p>Pam, where do you live. If it's anywhere near Gainesville, Florida's Shands Hospital at University of Florida - go see Dr. Scott Shell. He does the RF and is excellent.</p>
<p>Whitzw</p>
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</ul>Tue, 22 Apr 2003 19:27:29 +0000whitzwcomment 507415 at https://csn.cancer.orgRe: Help! Newly diagnosed.https://csn.cancer.org/comment/507414#comment-507414
<a id="comment-507414"></a>
<p><em>In reply to <a href="https://csn.cancer.org/comment/507413#comment-507413">Re: Help! Newly diagnosed.</a></em></p>
<div class="field field-name-comment-body field-type-text-long field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><p>Pam,</p>
<p>This is all so new to me, I know very little about cancer.<br />
My husband (35 years old) was recently diagnosed with colon cancer. The cancer spread to his liver and the doctor said he couldn't remove it from his liver because it was on both lobes. My husband has to start chemo and also go through radiofrequency to kill the cancer in the liver. The doctor said there are only about 2 doctors that do radiofrequency in our city.<br />
We are going today to a consult with the doctor to discuss the treatments, how often he needs them. </p>
<p>Cancer runs in my husbands family, his mother died of breast cancer.</p>
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</ul>Thu, 17 Apr 2003 17:35:20 +0000Sakincomment 507414 at https://csn.cancer.orgRe: Help! Newly diagnosed.https://csn.cancer.org/comment/507413#comment-507413
<a id="comment-507413"></a>
<p><em>In reply to <a href="https://csn.cancer.org/node/139812">Help! Newly diagnosed.</a></em></p>
<div class="field field-name-comment-body field-type-text-long field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><p>Kathi and Bob,<br />
I think you have gotten plenty of good advice here already. I would just add that everyone has a different reaction to the chemo so just try to be flexible and go with what works for you.</p>
<p>I was 35 when I was diagnosed with stage IV colon cancer with liver mets in November 2000. I had 13 inches of my colon removed, half my liver removed, and 8 months of weekly chemo (5FU, leukovorin, and irinotecan). The chemo wasn't fun but it wasn't the end of the world either. It made me nauseous but I just ate what I wanted when I felt like it and didn't eat if I felt it would make me sick. I did not lose weight, have diarrhea, develop mouth sores, or lose my hair. I did get tired a lot and my doctor had me get Procrit shots a few times.</p>
<p>Take care and God bless.</p>
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</ul>Thu, 17 Apr 2003 13:09:17 +0000pamcomment 507413 at https://csn.cancer.orgRe: Help! Newly diagnosed.https://csn.cancer.org/comment/507412#comment-507412
<a id="comment-507412"></a>
<p><em>In reply to <a href="https://csn.cancer.org/node/139812">Help! Newly diagnosed.</a></em></p>
<div class="field field-name-comment-body field-type-text-long field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><p>Good morning KathiG and Bob (and everyone else for that matter!</p>
<p>I'm new on the net here so it looks like I'm sort of joining the chat a bit late.</p>
<p>Anyway, I am 39 and a survivor. I was diagnosed about 18 months ago with colon cancer type 3 stage 3. I had approximately 26 inches of my colon removed and did 6 months of weekly chemotherapy. The first thing I want to say to you and Bob is that this thing can be beat. Secondly, as to your question about what should you be doing to give Bob the best chance of beating this: be there for him. Support him. Hold his hand while he does his chemo. My wife left me at the same time I was diagnosed and I went through my ordeal alone. Attitude is everything and anything you can do to keep Bob's attitude going strong will help him.</p>
<p>Short of that, I really can't offer any more advice than the great nuggets many of my survivor friends here have already given you. I would like to mention a study that Bob may qualify for...</p>
<p>I was (and still am) on active duty with the US Coast Guard. As a member of the Armed Services stationed in Washington, DC I received my treatment at Bethesda Naval Hospital (yep, the doc that did the President's scope did mine, too - talk about your standard of care!). Anyway, the Bethesda Oncology Clinic is in a joint program with the National Cancer Institute. As part of the Human Genome Mapping Project, NCI is looking at hereditary cancers. One of the most common type of hereditary cancer is NPHCC (Non-Polyposis Hereditary Colorectal Cancer). It tends to hit patients when they are young. Pathology on my tumors indicated that they had been with me since I was 33. Given my family history of CC, my age and the fact that my tumors were located in my ascending (right) colon (which tends to preclude "classic symptoms" of colon cancer), they felt I might have a hereditary form of cancer. I entered the study and (surprise!) I found out I do. </p>
<p>I mention this because of Bob's relatively young age. Most folks don't encounter colon cancer until they are into their 60s/70s. If you are interested in getting in touch with the study managers, drop me an e-mail through the system here and I'll provide you with a name and a phone number/e-mail address. The study won't really do anything to help cure Bob, but if you have children and Bob is a carrier of the gene, they will test your children (if they are old enough) so they can know if they carry the gene and should take certain preemptive actions.</p>
<p>In closing, I hope this has been helpful. One other thing I would suggest is a book "Chicken Soup for the Surviving Soul". It is loaded with lots of great anecdotes (including several by the Dr. Bernie Siegel that pricemom mentioned below). It is good not only for Bob, but it is good for you. The book will give you a window into Bob's head so you can see some of the emotions he is feeling as the patient.</p>
<p>Best wishes to you both. Be well.</p>
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</ul>Sun, 13 Apr 2003 12:05:05 +0000spongebobcomment 507412 at https://csn.cancer.orgRe: Help! Newly diagnosed.https://csn.cancer.org/comment/507411#comment-507411
<a id="comment-507411"></a>
<p><em>In reply to <a href="https://csn.cancer.org/comment/507410#comment-507410">Re: Help! Newly diagnosed.</a></em></p>
<div class="field field-name-comment-body field-type-text-long field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><p>Well, I'm a 3 year survivor. I can say that your diagnosis of T3T0M0 is good - relatively speaking this means you got it nipped in the bud (no pun intended) - so to speak and it is very likely there are no remote cancer cells wandering about BUT if you wanted to be more sure, you can do the chemo regimine, It is generally not a fun thing and I don't want to come of sounding like a salesman but as a paitent you want to give yourself the best possible outcome. I don't regret my decision at all because should it come back - or heaven forbid come back in a remote-metastates situation, I can at least comfort myself with the knowledge that I did everything I could have the first time around.</p>
<p>Having said this - a normal sequence of 4-5 sessions of chemo are no picnic but it's helpful to have someone around to help and work with you for support. </p>
<p>For me, it was worth it and the long term effects were not too bad, for me I had some neuralgia and did have a nasty-bad reaction to some anti-nausea medication and of course the requisite hair-thinning but I got all my hair back within about 4 months of stopping my chemo and otherwise had good responses but I'm also very lucky, I had a T3N2M0 situation and my CEA was neglible. </p>
<p>In short, I hope this helps in your decision.</p>
<p>Regards,</p>
<p>Joe</p>
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</ul>Sun, 13 Apr 2003 03:13:18 +0000joe08536comment 507411 at https://csn.cancer.orgRe: Help! Newly diagnosed.https://csn.cancer.org/comment/507410#comment-507410
<a id="comment-507410"></a>
<p><em>In reply to <a href="https://csn.cancer.org/node/139812">Help! Newly diagnosed.</a></em></p>
<div class="field field-name-comment-body field-type-text-long field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><p>Hi...I hope your husband is doing better and figures out what he is going to do. My husband age 59 was diagnosed 2/03 with stage 11 (T3 NO MO). He is being seen at USC Norris Cancer Center. They removed 18 '' of his large bowel and 13" of his small bowell. The lymph nodes were neg. The oncologist wants him to start chemo, but it is our understanding that chemo may not help at all for this stage, and that chemo is very hard on folks and they can even die or have long term health complications. My husband does not want to do the chemo. He wants to "wait and see what happens". Does anyone have any advice or similar circumstances? This is all new to us. My husband had no symptoms to speak of...fatigue, some abdominal pain, and 2 cranberry colored stools. His CEA before the surg. was .5. I am afraid to DO chemo if it isn't going to help anything, but then I am afraid to NOT do chemo just in case. Anyone else with this problem??? </p>
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</ul>Mon, 07 Apr 2003 20:40:42 +0000JKBcomment 507410 at https://csn.cancer.orgRe: Help! Newly diagnosed.https://csn.cancer.org/comment/507409#comment-507409
<a id="comment-507409"></a>
<p><em>In reply to <a href="https://csn.cancer.org/node/139812">Help! Newly diagnosed.</a></em></p>
<div class="field field-name-comment-body field-type-text-long field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><p>Hi Kathi,<br />
This September I will be a 7 year survivor of stage 3 colorectal cancer. The prognosis from my oncologist was for two good years with treatment. They try hard, but can only guess. I<br />
endured all the chemo and radiation treatments - some days were better than others, but I'm glad I gave it my very best shot. My last seven years have been worth all of it. People who<br />
don't know I went through cancer can't tell. My recommendations would be to offer lots of mild choices to eat. Rather than "What sounds good to you?" which could be NOTHING!!,<br />
I would offer milkshakes, creamy soups, toast, maybe even hot cereal. Vitamins are important. I did best with mild chicken-type dishes, rather than tomato-type dishes. I would be<br />
happy to answer any questions I can for you. I wish I would have had someone to tell me. The doctors mean well, but they haven't done it themselves. They tell you what the textbook<br />
tells them. We don't all follow the textbook. Best wishes to you and your hubby. By the way, I was 38 when diagnosed. As I said, so much for textbooks!</p>
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</ul>Thu, 27 Mar 2003 21:57:48 +0000Dreamer57comment 507409 at https://csn.cancer.orgRe: Help! Newly diagnosed.https://csn.cancer.org/comment/507408#comment-507408
<a id="comment-507408"></a>
<p><em>In reply to <a href="https://csn.cancer.org/node/139812">Help! Newly diagnosed.</a></em></p>
<div class="field field-name-comment-body field-type-text-long field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><p>Kathi and Bob,<br />
So sorry for your diagnosis. As you have quickly found out, your life will never be the same. My most important advice I can give you as one who has been there is to get off SUGAR!! It's what feeds cancer. Starve that cancer in any way you can so cut out sugar, white flour, white rice, alcohol, dairy (it's mucus forming and cancer also likes mucus), and meat. I liken colon cancer patients eating meat to a lung cancer patient smoking a ciggie. Increase his fiber with flax seeds and juice juice juice ( I recommend a Champion Juicer)(www.discountjuicers.com) carrots, spinach, parsley, ginger etc. Anything that is good for digestion and green. Enzymes are also important for colon cancer folks so are the EPA oils and calcium--but NOT from milk or cheese. </p>
<p>A very good book for chemo/nutrition is "Beating Cancer with Nutrition" by Dr. Patrick Quillin. He will explain what kind of supplements to use for what kind of cancer and what kind of treatment. I think it should be handed out to every cancer patient upon diagnosis. </p>
<p>I personally chose to not do the recommended chemo after watching my sister die of this cancer. Plus my tumor didn't give off markers so they wouldn't know if the adjuvant chemo (5FU leucovorin) was working. It wasn't a chance I was willing to take after seeing what it did to my sister. </p>
<p>I am solely doing alternative medicine and am feeling wonderful! 18 months cancer free so far. I also recommend researching detoxing especially since the liver was involved. You most likely would have to wait until after the chemo as you wouldn't want to burden the liver so much with dumping toxic chemicals into and toxic waste from his body at the same time. I have found the website www.curezone.com to be helpful in colon health articles. Check it out. </p>
<p>If you do anything for your hubby getting him off of sugar would be imperative...like I said STARVE the cancer. Please keep us posted on Bob's condition. Another website that I have found helpful is www.cancerdecisions.com. Dr. Ralph Moss was in cancer research at Memorial Sloan-Ketterling and has written many good books on the subject.</p>
<p> You would do your hubby a huge favor by researching on your own, reading books, and talking to folks who have been through this to see what worked for them. We are all different and will react differently. I am highly allergic to certain meds and just knew in my soul that taking chemo would not be good for me. I prayed about this fervently and knew what I needed to do. Unfortunately, the medical establishment was not helpful in my alternative pursuit. Oncology only knows chemicals not veggies. :-) So I have had to do this on my own and find alternative practioners--they are out there. Do you have a natural foods store or coop near you? There is a wealth of info at these places.</p>
<p>I hope this helps.</p>
<p>peace, emily</p>
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</ul>Wed, 26 Mar 2003 15:25:20 +00002bhealedcomment 507408 at https://csn.cancer.org